Layla 002: for the people behind the models, dashboards and decisions
About the event
Layla is an evening salon for senior data and AI leaders who prefer real conversation to stage time. Set in a candlelit gallery in Marylebone, it is more private view than conference, part forum, part curated experience. You will arrive into a warm reception, then be gently guided through a sequence of provocations that shift the energy in the room and open up new angles on the same underlying question: how data and AI are changing what we build, what we trust, and what we value.
Layla 002 brings together three distinct vantage points across data leadership, creative technology, and applied AI, with space for real conversation between moments.
In the room:
Ben Auffarth, CDO and author, speaking on building trustworthy AI in data products, what good looks like, and the practical standards that separate confidence from hype. Ben has also written one of the most widely read recent books on developing with LLMs using LangChain.
Tiziana Alocci, data artist and creative technologist, presenting DataSonica, an audiovisual installation that transforms live environmental data into sound and light. Her practice centres on transforming data into meaningful stories, and she lectures at the University of the Arts London. She is also a recognised thought leader and speaker in the data, art, and design space.
Nico Ward (Healf), Head of Healf Zone, building wellbeing intelligence at the intersection of design and applied ML. Previously built GenAI products for financial research, now exploring “wellness intelligence” and pressure testing his own assumptions around AI in art and design.
Expect the unexpected. This is a different kind of evening, not just in who’s in the room, but how it unfolds. The night is designed to be immersive and intentional, while keeping the details lightly held. You will not be asked to sit through slides, pitches, or a standard panel. Instead, you will move through a carefully paced arc, with moments of reflection and conversation built in.
Off the record throughout. No slides. No vendor pitches.Guest list capped at 40 to 60.
Who this is for
Chief Data Officers, Heads of Data, and Directors of Analytics
Heads of AI, and ML leaders shipping models to production
Senior product leaders integrating AI into customer experiences
Data platform leads and principal data engineers
A small group of artists and researchers working seriously with data
You might share a conversation with a CDO from a bank, a product director from a marketplace, a head of experimentation in media, an ML scientist from fashion tech, and an artist exploring machine systems.
Why attend
A quiet space to think out loud with peers who carry similar responsibility
Conversations that get beyond surface level takes, and into what is actually working (and not)
New perspectives and language you may find useful back in your team
A small room where introductions tend to be high signal, not transactional
Topics we expect to surface
Trustworthy AI in real data products, and what “good” looks like in practice
Governance that protects without slowing everything down
Measurement, experimentation, and decision quality
Data platform trade offs, cost, and operational reality
Safety, risk, and model behaviour in production
Culture, storytelling, and the human experience around the work
House rules
Off the record throughout
No slides or sales pitches
Contribute with openness and respect
Bring a live question, not a deck
Phones away during discussions
No filming or photography in the conversation blocks
Agenda
Arrival, drinks, and settling in
A sequence of short provocations, with curated conversation breaks throughout
Open room, cross pollination and introductions
Close (optional afters nearby)
Curation and referrals
We hand pick the room for seniority and fit. Each guest may suggest one or two people they would value meeting, and we will prioritise those invitations when shaping the night. If you refer someone, ask them to mention your name in the form. If you were referred, add their name so we can prioritise your place. We will thank referrers privately and try to seat you near your nominees.
Tickets
A small ticket fee helps cover the gallery and hospitality. Places are limited.
Dress
Come as your most interesting self.
Hosted by
Amin Hasan (data and analytics) and Sara Beazley (Product Manager at ArtLume).We are building Layla as an ongoing, thoughtful community rather than a one off.
Practical details
Location: Cramer Street Gallery, Marylebone, London. Exact address and access details are shared on confirmation.
Food and drink: Drinks and light bites provided.
After the event
With opt in, we will share a private contact list so you can follow up. We may also invite a small follow on circle to continue a thread that emerged in the room.
Questions
Message us on LinkedIn or email [email protected].More about Layla: https://layladata.com